Syrian forces open fire on crowds in Damascus

Assad troops use live rounds on funerals in Syrian capital

Published: 02/18/2012 at 6:18 PM

Syrian security forces fired on a huge protest against President Bashar Assad in Damascus on Saturday, soon after a Chinese envoy had appealed for a halt to 11 months of violence, opposition activists said.

The shooting took place at the funerals of three youths killed on Friday in an anti-Assad protest that was one of the biggest in the capital since a nationwide uprising started.